--- title: Queensland tap water named Australia’s top drop description: After taking out the state title for two years running, Queensland’s Mackay Regional Council can now lay claim to Australia’s best tasting tap water. --- [![Indigo by AWA logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Indigo_colour.png?height=24&name=Indigo_colour.png)](https://indigo.awa.asn.au/) [![Ozwater logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Ozwater.png?height=24&name=Ozwater.png)](https://www.ozwater.org/) [![Careers in Water logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png?height=24&name=Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png)](https://www.careersinwater.com.au/) [![NWW logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/NWW.png?height=24&name=NWW.png)](https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/) - [Join ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-user-icon.svg "user icon")](https://www.awa.asn.au/new-registration) - 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Water from MRC’s Marian Water Treatment Plant was judged against [samples from across the country](https://ozwater.org/Watersource/community/engagement/one-of-sas-smallest-treatment-plants-has-won-best-tasting-tap-water/) at the 2019 Ixom Best Tasting Tap Water Competition, held in Victoria on Saturday.  It came out just ahead of the other state champions: New South Wales’ Shoalhaven Water; TasWater; SA Water; Western Australia’s Water Corporation; and Barwon Water in Victoria. [![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) MRC Water Treatment Manager Stuart Boyd accepts the award from Ixom's Rowan Storey. MRC’s sample came from the Pioneer River, which originates in the tropical rainforests of Eungella National Park and the Crediton State Forest.  It was then treated at the Marian plant and distributed to more than 6000 Marian and Mirani residents. MRC Mayor Greg Williamson said the award was a testament to MRC’s water services team. “You don’t need to go to the big capital cities to get the best water; we have it right here in our very own backyard,” he [said](https://www.mackay.qld.gov.au/about_council/news_and_media/media_releases/we_have_the_best_drop_in_australia). “Water from rivers needs to go through a thorough treatment process to remove any impurities, and we are providing our residents with the cleanest and best tasting tap water in Australia.”  # How does the competition work? Throughout the year, water authorities from across the country participate in state heats, where water samples are judged on qualities including colour, clarity, odour and mouthfeel. Competition organiser, the Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOA), describes it as “wine tasting without needing to spit out the samples”. WIOA Chief Operations Officer Craig Mathisen said the annual awards are about recognising the hard work of those in the water sector. “No one writes about high-quality drinking water that everyone drinks 365 days a year and no one gets sick from, so WIOA decided to try and shed some light on what has been, for too long, a hidden industry,” he [said](https://wioa.org.au/awards/national-awards/australias-best-tap-water/). “We see the operators of the facilities as people who work in public health who daily put quality food on the tables of our communities around the country.” MRC will go on to represent Australia at the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Competition in the US in February. It will hope to outdo the 2018 Australian winner, Victoria’s Wannon Water, which [took second place](https://ozwater.org/Watersource/community/engagement/victoria-home-to-worlds-second-best-tasting-tap-water/) in the competition.  [ Mackay Regional Council ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/mackay-regional-council) [ Tap Water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/tap-water) [ Engagement ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/engagement) [ Drinking Water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/drinking-water) [ Queensland ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/queensland) [ Local Councils ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/local-councils) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=Queensland%20tap%20water%20named%20Australia’s%20top%20drop&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/queensland-tap-water-named-australias-top-drop) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/queensland-tap-water-named-australias-top-drop) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/queensland-tap-water-named-australias-top-drop) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/queensland-tap-water-named-australias-top-drop) ## RELATED NEWS [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/casino-water-treatment-plant.jpg?width=352&name=casino-water-treatment-plant.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/richmond-valley-takes-out-prize-for-australias-tastiest-tap-water) ### [ Richmond Valley takes out prize for Australia's tastiest tap water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/richmond-valley-takes-out-prize-for-australias-tastiest-tap-water) Cecilia Harris The winner of the annual Water Industry Operators Association of Australia (WIOA) Best Tasting Tap Water in Australia competition… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/richmond-valley-takes-out-prize-for-australias-tastiest-tap-water) ### [ Tap water taste test draws attention to Australia’s top drop ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/tap-water-taste-test-draws-attention-to-australias-top-drop) Water Source Five water utilities from around Australia will be judged on the taste of their tap water this week for a competition heralding the… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/tap-water-taste-test-draws-attention-to-australias-top-drop) ### [ Queensland council takes silver at world water awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/queensland-council-takes-silver-at-world-water-awards) Water Source Australia can once again lay claim to the world’s second best tasting tap water, with Queensland’s Mackay Regional Council (MRC)… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/queensland-council-takes-silver-at-world-water-awards) Advertising --- ### Subscribe to our newsletters Sign up to get the latest news and insights from us Advertising --- ![white arrow pointing upwards](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-white-arrow-up.svg) Top [![Footer-logo-02](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Footer-logo-02.svg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/) The **Australian Water Association** acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across Australia, where we live, work and play, for their deep connection to our precious waters and land. 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